Role Model spotlight: Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma

Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma is a mom of two daughters living in Toronto. She’s committed to being an active role model and raising them to be active for life. On her new blog Maple and Marigold, Puneeta writes about family, kids, travel, and how to make every day enjoyable, healthy, and delicious, all with a multicultural flair. We love that she’s supporting her daughters to explore many different sports and activities and her dedication to getting them outside to play at every opportunity.

Q&A with Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma

AfL: What is your biggest fear?

Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma: That my kids will make choices based on my past experiences rather than their own current ones. Growing up I walked everywhere but regret that I didn’t really take up any regular sport. I would like to encourage my kids to try their hand at different activities to help them find the ones they love. Even if it’s just climbing walls or skating down stairs.

AfL: What is your proudest moment?

Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma: My older one played recreational soccer in the neighbourhood team for a few years. One year her team lost every match they played and she was disappointed every Saturday. The following season I was sure she was done with soccer. She wasn’t. She played for another year after that.

AfL: What is your favourite way to spend time with family?

Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma: Hiking in Sunnybrook Park. We seem to end up on the same trails every weekend.

AfL: What is your favourite season and why?

Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma: Ooh, that’s a tough one. Spring, and then Fall comes a close second. Spring is just a wonderful time of new beginnings and green leaves and flowers, with nature shedding its brown wintry cloak. Perfect time for being outdoors. Winter does get a mention here. I love the outdoors and winter activities with fresh snow on the ground.

Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma: My favourite outdoor activity at one point used to be whitewater rafting. I have successfully and frequently maneuvered Grade 4 and 5 rapids with only one dunking!

AfL: Please tell us in a few words why you’re excited to be an AfL Role Model?

Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma: I strongly support the cause that Active for Life is spearheading in raising happy, healthy, physically literate kids. The world is changing for our kids and there is a need to deliberately think about getting outdoors and being active as a family. I am honoured to be a role model for Active for Life and help encourage other families to get an early start on these healthy long term habits.

Sara Smeaton is the associate managing editor of Active for Life. Her articles have been featured online, and in print, in the Globe and Mail Health Advisor section, on SavvyMom, and several other online magazines. She comes from an advertising background where she produced hundreds of web projects for some of North America's biggest brands. Sara lives in Toronto with her husband and two creative children who have never met a tree they didn't want to climb. Follow Sara on Twitter, @SaraSmeaton.

Active For Life

Active for Life is the place where parents go to learn about activities for kids. Physical education leads to physical literacy, which is critical for child development. Physical literacy also gives active kids the best chance to someday compete in high-performance sport. Kids activities are organized here by age and gender, so parents can find fun and engaging ways of making sure their children get the recommended daily amount of physical activity. Activities for toddlers are aimed at the development of fundamental movement skills, while activities for children build on the fundamentals to establish more complex sport skills that can be used to play any number of sports and activities. Exercises for kids enhance their physical development. In the early stages of child growth, early childhood development is dependent on appropriate exercises for children. Because kids play is good for kids health.